As I prepare to take my annual Christmas tree trek to Home Depot this December, I keep hearing that there’s a shortage of real Christmas trees this year and it’s got me wondering. Is there really a lack of real Christmas trees this year? In the run up to my upcoming purchase, I’ve seen Christmas tree lots brimming with Fraser firs and Balsam firs and no shortage of wreaths, so what gives?
I contacted the good folks at Home Depot, who assured me they will have plenty of Christmas trees to meet the festive demands of holiday tree shoppers this year.
“As the destination for live Christmas trees, we are ready to meet our customers’ demands for live trees throughout the holiday season,” said Dan Stuppiello, Home Depot’s District Merchandise Manager of Live Goods.
And Dan is correct! I happened to be in Home Depot just this week to purchase some screws for a non-Christmas-related project, and I took a peek into their Christmas tree lot. It was full of beautiful trees in all shapes and sizes. And this is apparently not unusual. According to the Real Christmas Tree Board, the Christmas tree industry has actually never run out of Christmas trees at any point or any year.
It is true that during the 2008-2011 recession many Christmas tree growing operations did go out of business or their owners retired, triggering a temporary drop in supply. But according to the Real Christmas Tree Board, other large growers and new farmers stepped in to fill the gap by planting more trees, which are just now starting to become available and bode well for future supplies. It typically takes eight to 10 years for a Christmas tree to grow into an appropriate sized tree for consumers.
Why are Christmas tree prices higher in 2023?
According to the American Christmas Tree Association, you can expect to pay approximately 10% more this year for your Christmas tree, either live or artificial. The association cited three primary reasons:
– Salaries for workers have risen
– Supplies simply cost more
– Shipping prices are rising
The good news is that wholesale price increases are actually down this year. According to the Real Christmas Tree Board, last year the majority of growers (71%) cited a likely wholesale price increase of 5% to 15%. This year, only 25% reported the same thing and just under half (48%) expect to take a wholesale price increase of less than 5% this year. Finally, more than a quarter (27%) don’t expect to increase their prices at all.
“The real Christmas tree industry consistently meets demand,” said Marsha Gray, executive director of the Real Christmas Tree Board. “This year, two-thirds of the wholesale growers (67%) surveyed told us they expect to sell all the trees they plan to harvest.”
While extreme heat and drought impacts can be challenging for individual growers, generally, these events are very localized and typically affect only small or vulnerable trees without impacting the overall market.
Where can I find a live Christmas tree this year?
Generally speaking, there are three primary ways to get a Christmas tree.
- In the U.S., cut down your own tree down in a national forest!
You can actually chop down your own tree at a U.S. national forest for only $10 with a special permit but it comes with some challenges. Any tree you cut down must be more than 200 feet away from any road, recreational area, or campground. And because dragging a tree 200 feet through a national forest can be quite difficult and damaging to the tree itself, only the most hardy tend to pick this option.
- Cut down your tree at a local Christmas tree farm.
According to the Department of Agriculture, consumers buy approximately 12 million Christmas trees a year from Christmas tree farms from the more than 3,000 farms across the U.S. selling trees each year. While I’ve never done this myself, it does seem like a wonderful experience. - Visit your local retailer, such as Home Depot.
Retailers make up the majority of Christmas tree sales, which come from locally grown or imported (mostly from Canada) trees. I buy my tree every year at Home Depot and have always found a beautiful tree ready and waiting for me.
So if you haven’t already purchased your Christmas tree this year, have no fear. There are plenty of places that are oh so near to fulfill your personal quest for some live Christmas tree cheer.
Related resources
Christmas Tree Guide (Source: Real Christmas Tree Board)
Tips for Buying a Real tree (Source: Real Christmas Tree Board)
Tree Care Tips (Source: Real Christmas Tree Board)
Chris LaFontaine has been a Christmas enthusiast since opening his first Christmas present and after helping to decorate his first Christmas tree. He created Christmaseveryminute.com for those who want to celebrate Christmas a little longer, a little earlier, or every day. You can contact him at celebratechristmaseveryminute@gmail.com to talk all things Christmas, submit your Christmas-themed photos for publishing consideration or to simply share a Christmas story with website readers.
